19 April 1588Siege of CadizFrancis Drake
Says he has "singed the King's beard". Destroys 36 Spanish ships & intercepts barrel staves intended for the armada. Delays the Armada by 1 year
Historical records for England in 1588, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Says he has "singed the King's beard". Destroys 36 Spanish ships & intercepts barrel staves intended for the armada. Delays the Armada by 1 year
1,000 men disembarked at Lagos in the Algarve and stormed the fortresses of Sagres, Baleeira, Beliche and Cape St. Vincent
It takes until May 30 for all of the Armada to leave port and, on the same day, Elizabeth's ambassador in The Netherlands, Dr Valentine Dale, meets Parmas representatives to begin peace negotiations
Negotiations were abandoned, and the English fleet stood prepared, if ill-supplied, at Plymouth, awaiting news of Spanish movements
Negotiations were abandoned, and the English fleet stood prepared, if ill-supplied, at Plymouth, awaiting news of Spanish movements
Negotiations are abandoned
An English attack is launched from the Scilly Isles by Lord Howard
Delayed by bad weather, the Armada is not sighted in England until July 19, when it appears off The Lizard in Cornwall, the news is conveyed to London by a sequence of beacons that had been constructed the length of the south coast of England
Delayed by bad weather, the Armada is not sighted in England until July 19, when it appears off The Lizard in Cornwall, the news is conveyed to London by a sequence of beacons that had been constructed the length of the south coast of England
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
As the tide turned, 55 English ships set out to confront them from Plymouth under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham, with Sir Francis Drake as Vice Admiral. Howard ceded some control to Drake, given his experience in battle. The rear admiral was Sir John Hawkins
As the tide turned, 55 English ships set out to confront them from Plymouth under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham, with Sir Francis Drake as Vice Admiral. Howard ceded some control to Drake, given his experience in battle. The rear admiral was Sir John Hawkins
As the tide turned, 55 English ships set out to confront them from Plymouth under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham, with Sir Francis Drake as Vice Admiral. Howard ceded some control to Drake, given his experience in battle. The rear admiral was Sir John Hawkins
Drake helps drive fireships toward the anchored Armada, forcing Spanish ships to scatter before the Gravelines fighting.
Howard keeps the English fleet close to the Armada as it moves toward the Flemish coast.
The two fleets sight each other off Dodman Point
Drake is waiting in Plymouth with 14 galleons & 50 other vessels
The Spanish Armada is defeated by an English naval force under command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, now in France
The Spanish Armada is defeated by an English naval force under command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, now in France
16 Spanish ships are captured.
On the day after Gravelines, the wind had backed, southerly, enabling Medina Sidonia to move the Armada northward (away from the French coast), the English pursue the Spanish fleet, to prevent it returning to escort Parma.
Ordered by Lord Howard to patrol Dunkirk & Nieuport.
Prevents Parma making a dash for the English coast.
The Spanish fleet manages to escape to the North Sea due to a sudden squall.
The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful
The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful
On the day after Gravelines, the wind had backed, southerly, enabling Medina Sidonia to move the Armada northward (away from the French coast), the English pursue the Spanish fleet, to prevent it returning to escort Parma
Sends 8 tarred fireships to attack the Armada where it waits to rendezvous with Parma
Queen Elizabeth visits Tilbury to encourage her forces and gives to them what is probably her most famous speech
Queen Elizabeth visits Tilbury to encourage her forces and gives to them what is probably her most famous speech. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too
Drake joins the pursuit as the damaged Armada moves away from Flanders into the North Sea.
Howard reduces close pursuit after the Armada is driven clear of Flanders and English ammunition runs low.
Howard calls a halt to the chase in the latitude of the Firth of Forth off Scotland but ut by that point, the Spanish are suffering from thirst and exhaustion, the only option left to Sidonia is to chart a course home to Spain, along the Atlantic
Although their shot lockers were almost empty, the English pursued in an attempt to prevent the enemy from returning to escort Parma.
By that point, the Spanish were suffering from thirst and exhaustion, and the only option left to Medina Sidonia was to chart a course home to Spain, by a very hazardous route
On 2 August Old Style (12 August New Style) Howard called a halt to the pursuit in the latitude of the Firth of Forth off Scotland.
On the day after the Battle of Gravelines, the wind had backed southerly, enabling Medina Sidonia to move his fleet northward away from the French coast.
Earl of Leicester maintained a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the Thames Estuary against any incursion up-river towards London.
On 8 August (18 August New Style) Queen Elizabeth went to Tilbury to encourage her forces, and the next day gave to them what is probably her most famous speech.
The threat of invasion from The Netherlands had not yet been discounted by the English, and Robert Dudley.
Earl of Leicester maintained a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the Thames Estuary against any incursion up-river towards London.
On 8 August (18 August New Style) Queen Elizabeth went to Tilbury to encourage her forces, and the next day gave to them what is probably her most famous speech.
The threat of invasion from The Netherlands had not yet been discounted by the English, and Robert Dudley.
Earl of Leicester maintained a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the Thames Estuary against any incursion up-river towards London.
On 8 August (18 August New Style) Queen Elizabeth went to Tilbury to encourage her forces, and the next day gave to them what is probably her most famous speech.
The threat of invasion from The Netherlands had not yet been discounted by the English, and Robert Dudley.
Earl of Leicester maintained a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the Thames Estuary against any incursion up-river towards London.
On 8 August (18 August New Style) Queen Elizabeth went to Tilbury to encourage her forces, and the next day gave to them what is probably her most famous speech.
The threat of invasion from The Netherlands had not yet been discounted by the English, and Robert Dudley.
"My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but, I do assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.
I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king - and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare
I know already, for your forwardness, you have deserved rewards and crowns, and, we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you.
In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."
Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself, that under God I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects; and, therefore, I am come amongst you as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being
resolved, in the midst and heat of battle, to live or die amongst you all – to lay down for my God, and for my kingdoms, and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust.
to invade the borders of my realm; to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms - I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.
English naval pressure prevents the Armada from safely joining Parma's invasion army on the Flemish coast.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester maintaines a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the estuary of the River Thames against any incursion up-river towards London
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester maintaines a force of 4,000 soldiers at West Tilbury, Essex, to defend the estuary of the River Thames against any incursion up-river towards London
Sends contingents to support Henry IV in France
Named Commander in Chief of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada although he does not directly take charge of the fighting
Named Commander in Chief of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada although he does not directly take charge of the fighting
Launches an expedition to Greenland
Elizabeth is excommunicated by the Pope for a 2nd time on the eve of the Armada
Effingham orders an indirect strategy of harassing the Spanish fleet rather than attacking them directly
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